Prevalence and Predictors of Albuminuria in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study from the United Arab Emirates

Background and aim: Albuminuria in Diabetes mellitus (DM) patients may lead to nephropathy and end-stage renal disease. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence of albuminuria and its associated predictors among type 2 DM patients in the United Arab Emirates.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among type 2 DM patients in the diabetic clinic at Fujairah Hospital from 1st January 2016 to 30th January 2020 after getting the ethical clearance. Data were collected electronically from the health information system and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Regression analysis and ANOVA were used for inferential analysis. A P-value of ≤0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Among the 200 patients included in the study, the mean age of the study population was 56 years, and the majority of them were females (71%). The prevalence of albuminuria was found to be 44%. By using regression analysis, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c; P=0.038) and systolic blood pressure (SBP; P=0.003) were found to be predictors of albuminuria. One way ANOVA revealed that there were significant associations between the albumin levels and HbA1c (P=0.004), SBP (P= 0.002), diastolic blood pressure (DBP; P=0.028), serum creatinine (Scr) (P=0.039), and glomerular filtration rate (GFR; P=0.013).

Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study from Fujairah emirate that explored the prevalence and predictors of albuminuria in type 2 DM patients. We found a high prevalence of albuminuria among type 2 DM patients. HbA1c and SBP directly contributed to albuminuria. To improve glycemic control, patients need to improve physical activity, reduce overweight and, adherence to medications that improve overall therapeutic outcomes.